The Coorong
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Coorong National Park South Australia |
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IUCN category II (national park)
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The Coorong looking across its midpoint near Salt Creek
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A map of the Coorong
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 Coorong National Park
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| Nearest town or city | Goolwa |
| Coordinates | 36°02′57″S 139°33′13″E / 36.04917°S 139.55361°ECoordinates: 36°02′57″S 139°33′13″E / 36.04917°S 139.55361°E |
| Established | 1 January 1966 |
| Area | 489.91 km2 (189.2 sq mi) |
| Managing authorities | Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources |
| Website | Coorong National Park |
| See also | Protected areas of South Australia |
The Coorong National Park is a protected area located in South Australia about 156 kilometres (97 mi) southeast of Adelaide and that pre-dominantly covers a lagoon ecosystem officially known as the Coorong and the Younghusband Peninsula on the Coorong's southern side.
Its name is thought to be a corruption of the local Aboriginal people's word kurangh, meaning "long neck"; a reference to the shape of the lagoon system. The name is also thought to be from the Aboriginal word Coorang, "sand dune", a reference to the sand dunes that form the Younghusband Peninsula.
The western end of the Coorong lagoon is at the Murray Mouth near Hindmarsh Island and the Sir Richard Peninsula, and it extends about 130 kilometres (81 mi) southeast. The park area includes the Coorong itself, and Younghusband Peninsula which separates the Coorong from Encounter Bay in the Southern Ocean. The Coorong has been cut off from Lake Alexandrina by the construction of the Goolwa Barrages (weirs) from Goolwa to Pelican Point during the late 1930s.
The park was formed in 1966 as a sanctuary for many species of birds, animals and fish. It attracts many migratory species. It provides refuge for these animals during some of Australia's regular droughts. The 467 square kilometres (180 sq mi) also supports coastal dune systems, lagoons and coastal vegetation.
One of the unique aspects of the Coorong is the interaction of water along its length, with sea water and Murray River water meeting rainfall and groundwater. The freshwater supports the fauna (animal) of the area while the sea water is the habitat for much of the birdlife.
The waters of the Coorong are a popular venue for recreational and commercial fishers. The popular 'Coorong Mullet' and 'school mulloway' are the main species. The region was the setting of the popular 1977 film Storm Boy.
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